Connecting means for harness, &amp; c.



No. 762,722. PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904. W. s. HUMPHRBYS, JR.

CONNECTING MEANS FOR HARNESS, 20.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Yatented June 14, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CONNECTING MEANS FOR HARNESS, 80c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,722, dated June 14, 1904.

Application filed November 24, 1903. Serial No. 182,478- (No model.)

To (Ml whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM SHELLEY HUM- PHREYS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Moultrie, in the county of Colquitt and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Connecting Means for Harness and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a connecting means or catch for use on harness and the like to replace the ordinary form of buckle and simulating in its construction a hook and eye.

The primary object of the improved device is to provide means for expediting the attachment and separation of straps or other members adapted to be connected and quickly uncoupled and also to simplify the construction of connecting devices generally and render them more reliable in performing their intended functions.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of aconnecting means embodying the features of the invention and shown attached to strapterminals. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views.

The improved connecting means comprises a loop 1, which in the present instance is-circular in form with the exception of a straight attaching member 2 for the application of the terminal of a strap or other analogous element 3, the connecting-bar 2 always holding the eye in proper position for engagement with its cooperating member. A hook member 4: is used in connection with the eye 1 and comprises in its structure an attaching-loop 5 at its rear end for engagement with the terminal of a strap or other element 6. From the loop 5 arms 7 extend and converge toward a circular hook 8, having an inner tongue 9 continuous therewith and extending between the said bars to form a guard. The eye 1 and hook member 4: are preferably constructed of stiff wire and each of a single piece. The hook member has the hook 4 at the point where the eye 1 engages the same provided with an indented bearing. By disposing the wire in separated relation, as clearly shown by Fig. 2, the said wire converges toward the tongue 9 to facilitate passage of said tongue through the eye in assembling the two parts of the connecting means.

To attach the eye to the hook 8, it is turned at a proper angle and inserted between the arm 7 and moved outwardly toward the hook until the end of the tongue 9 is in position to pass into the eye, and the latter is then turned, as shown, to fully engage the hook.

In separating the parts of the improved device the eye 1 is pushed rearwardly toward the tongue and turned to a position similar to that when engagement of the eye with the tongue is made to permit said tongue to be drawn out of the eye.

The advantage of the improved connecting means over the ordinary buckle is that there are no parts to become moist and frozen in cold weather, and the use of pivots, springs, and other similar elements is avoided. It is proposed to plate the parts of the connecting means or to primarily use wire of a non-corrosive nature.

Changes in the proportions and dimensions may also be resorted to without in the least departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is A connecting means of the class set forth consisting of an eye, and a hook member of resilient wire having arms converging toward one extremity and terminating in coils having their inner portions rearwardly converged in planes reverse to the planes of convergence of the arms and continuing into a depending guard extending through the arms having its free end in line with the maximum rear projection of the coils, the said arms being spaced apart from each other and of such length as to In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in permit the eye to be inserted or withdrawn presence of two witnesses. therethrough when disposed in a longitudinal direction, the rearward convergence of the coils also permitting the eye to be inserted between the front portions of the arms and the rear portions of the coils.

WILLIAM SHELLEY HUMPHREYS, JR.

Witnesses:

R. G. CLARK, JAMES A. HUMPHREYS. 

